Kent arrived in 1820 as Captain of the schooner, Prince Regent and as an officer of the Royal Navy. He explored many of New Zealand's northland harbours being the first to traverse and survey the Rangitoto channel and Waitemata harbour. In 1821 he captained the cutter, Mermaid and with the accommpanying schooner, Prince Regent, gifted it to Kamehameha II on behalf of George IV. In 1823 Kent investigated the flax industry in the South Island traversing, surveying and naming new ports and in 1826 left the service to begin a trading post in Hokianga. Kent lived under the Ngati Korokoro people and married Wharo. In 1828 he moved to Kawhia to trade with Waikato people of Tainui and married Potatau Te Wherowhero's daughter, Tiria. From 1827 to 1837 he had a successful trading relationship with Maori until his death at Kahawai on the Manukau harbour and was buried in a cemetary alongside Maori. See DNZB.
Kent, John Rodolphus, -1837
Whaling, sealing and early settlement - Part 3
Date: 1943-1944
From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. Centennial Publications Branch : Historical Atlas material
Reference: MS-Papers-0230-008
Description: Correspondence and letters concerning the history and activities of whalers in New Zealand during the early and mid 18th century. Mostly concerns activities in Northland, Kawhia and Tauranga. Also includes extracts of verbatim evidence from various Maori from these districts. Also includes whakapapa for the Kennedy family from Ngati Porou, and biographical information for the Kennedy, Mair, Clendon, Tapsell & other families. Includes census of Europeans residing in Northern District, 1846 (from Clendon mss in Auckland Public Library) Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Inventory available.
Articles relating to John Rodolphus Kent
Date: 1828-1982
From: Ross, John O'Connell (Rear Admiral), 1916-1983 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1500-19
Description: Includes Commercial penetration of the Waikato (1828-1834) by Clarke; Pre 1840 European Trade and Settlement to Kawhia; biographical notes on John Kent; chart of Cloudy Bay and correspondence with Norman Judd (1982) Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Inventory available.
Waterloo Warehouse : Ledger
Date: 1823-1826
Reference: Micro-MS-0269
Description: Ledger, 1823-1826; Cooper & Levy, Proprietors. No cataloguing material was sent by the Fisher Library but in a letter dated Feb 1980 they say that it contains some Grono and Kent material as well as information about Captain Thompson and his association with Thomas Icely. Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) positive (ca 200 pages).
Whaling, sealing and early settlement - Part 2
Date: May 1939-Oct 1940
From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. Centennial Publications Branch : Historical Atlas material
Reference: MS-Papers-0230-006
Description: Correspondence and notes about whaling and sealing, and whaling stations throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Considerable correspondence relating to Port Cooper (Lyttelton) and Peraki whaling activities. Some notes about Kapiti and surrounding districts. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Detailed inventory available.
Master Mariner - John Rodolphus Kent
Date: 1975
From: Ross, John O'Connell (Rear Admiral), 1916-1983 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1500-04
Description: Unpublished manuscript Quantity: 1 folder(s) (205 pages). Finding Aids: Inventory available.
Kent, John Radolphus : Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Colonial Cutter Merm...
Date: 1823
By: Kent, John Rodolphus, -1837
Reference: Micro-MS-0504
Description: Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) positive (c118p.).
Various papers relating to the Boultbee project
Date: [1970-1986]
From: Starke, June, 1923-2006 : Research papers
Reference: 2003-228-57
Description: Correspondence, editorial notes, essay on John Rodolphus Kent and similar material Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Ross, John O'Connell (Rear Admiral), 1916-1983 : Papers
Date: 1973-1983
By: Ross, John O'Connell (Rear Admiral), 1916-1983
Reference: MS-Papers-1500
Description: Papers relate to Ross's research into pre-colonial shipping in New Zealand coastal waters, New Zealand place names and the discovery of Port Nicholson. Included are biographies of James Herd, John Rodolphus Kent, Thomas McDonnell, Robert McNab, Frederick George Moore, Robert Murray and Thomas Wing Source of title - Supplied title Ross rose to the senior rank of rear admiral in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is the author of several books on New Zealand nautical history Quantity: 46 folder(s). 3 box(es). 1.46 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts (some carbon copies) and printed matter Finding Aids: Inventory available. Transfers: From Photographic Archive -.